Fountain comb



D- 25, 1956 J. B. NEWTON 2,775,251

FOUNTAIN COMB Filed May 11, 1954 United States Patent O 2,775,251 FoUNrAlN coMB a J. B. Newton, Oklahoma City, Okla. j `Application May 11, 1954, serial No. 429,034

2 Claims. (c1. 132-116) i t This invention relates to a fountain comb and has for 'its primary object to supply liquid dressing to the hair while the latter is being combed.

Another object is to eject the liquid from the comb body along the teeth of the comb to assure an even distribution of the liquid upon the hair.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a barrel having a bore extending longitudinally thereinto through one end thereof, a row of longitudinally spaced comb teeth carried by the barrel and extending radially outwardly therefrom, said barrel having longitudinally spaced ports extending therethrough and communicating with the spaces between the comb teeth, a hollow cylinder mounted in the bore to move longitudinally therein, said cylinder defining a reservoir for containing a hair dressing liquid, said cylinder having longitudinally spaced liquid discharge ports extending therethrough for registration with the ports inthe barrel when the cylinder moves longitudinally within the barrel, a spring mounted within the barrel and engaging the cylinder for holding the ports in the cylinder out of registration with the ports in the barrel, and means carried by the barrel and operatively connected to the cylinder for moving the cylinder against the'eifort of the spring and the ports in the` cylinder into registration with the ports in the barrel.

Other features include a piston carried by the barrel and entering the cylinder for expelling liquid therefrom when the ports therein register with the ports in the barrel, a valve carried by the piston and adapted to open when the cylinder has moved suciently to register the ports therein withthe ports in the barrel for admitting air into the cylinder above the liqiud contained therein, and said valve automatically closing upon the return of the cylinder to port closing position.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a comb embodying the features of this invention;`

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the comb illustrated in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the comb;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the parts in another position;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Figure 7;

Figure 1l is a front view of the comb; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side view of the comb 2,775,251 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 showing the comb barrel partially` withdrawn from the comb body.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a comb body designated generally 10 comprises a handle 12 having a longitudinal groove 14 extending therethrough. Carried by the handle 12 and extending longitudinally therefrom is a comb body 16 which is substantially crescent-shaped in cross section and carries a longitudinal row of spaced comb teeth 18 which .extend outwardly from the convex side of the body 16. As illustrated in Figure 3, the crescent-shaped body 16 is provided with longitudinally spaced ducts 20 which extend therethrough and communicate with the spaces between the comb teeth 18, as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings. Carried by the end of the body 16 remote from the handle 12 are depending lugs 22 which define keepers for the latches carried by the barrel to be more fully hereinafter described.

Removably seated in the concave side of the crescentshaped body 16 is a barrel 24 having a longitudinal bore 26 opening thereinto` through one end thereof, and carried by the barrel adjacent the open end thereof are latch fingers 28 which are adapted to engage the keepers 22 to hold the barrel 24 in place in the concave side of the body 16. As illustrated in Figure 2, the barrel 24 is provided with an axial opening 30 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described.

Mounted within the barrel 24 for longitudinal sliding v movement in the bore 26 is a cylindrical reservoir 32 having a filling` opening 34 extending through the end thereof adjacent the open end of the barrel which filling opening is closed by a removable plug 36 by means of which the hair dressing material may be introduced into the cylinder. Carried by the cylinder and extending longitudinally therefrom adjacent the end thereof remote from the plug 36 is a plunger 38 carrying a lateral extension or trigger 40, by means of `which the cylinder 32 may be moved longitudinally within the barrel 24. The barrel 24 is provided with a row of longitudinally spaced ports 42 which register with the ducts 2G and extending through the cylinder 32 are longitudinally spaced elongated longitudinal slots 44 which in one position of the cylinder 32 register with the ports 42 to establish communication betweenthe interior of the cylinder and the ducts 20. The compression coiled spring 46 is mounted within the barrel 24 and one .end thereof bears on the end of the barrel adjacent the opening 30, while the opposite end of said spring bears on the cylinder 32 to yield ingly urge the slots` 44 out of registration with the ports 42. Extending transversely through the stem 38 is an elongated slot 48 for accommodating a cross member Sil which carries in axial alignment with the opening 30 a stem or stud 52. This stem or stud 52 extends inwardly from the adjacentendof the barrel and through `an axial opening 54 in the adjacent end of the cylinder 32 and carried by the stem 52 and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the end thereof remote from the cross bar 5t) is a piston S6 which snugly fits within the cylinder 32 so that as it is moved against the eiort of the spring 46, the piston will exert pressure on the contents of the cylinder to cause it to be ejected through the slots 44 and ports 42 when the latter are in registration.

In order to admit air into the cylinder 32 above any liquid L contained therein,'the piston 56 is provided with ports 58 which, when the cylinder 32 is moved under the influence of the spring 46, are closed by a longitudinally movable valve 60 carried by the piston. Extending through the end Wall of the cylinder 32 remote from that carrying the plug `34 and in concentric spaced relation to the opening 54 are ports 62 which open into the chamber containing the spring 46 which has communication with atmosphere through an opening 64. A valve 66 is mounted for longitudinal movement along the stem 52 into and out of closing relationto -the ports 62 and longitudinal movement of the valve 66 is limited by an inwardly extending annular flange `68 defined by a stop which lies in the path of movement of the rim of the valve 66, as will be readily understood upon vreference to the drawings.

In use, it will be evident that 'by removing the plug 36 from the opening 34 in the cylinder 32 liquid hair dressing may be introduced into the interior of the cylinder and upon replacing the plug, the device is ready for operation. ln order to dispense the dressing liquid, pull is exerted on the handle 40 to move the cylinder 32 against the effort of the spring 46 to move the slots 44 into registration with the ports 42 so that the liquid may ow through the ducts 20 down the teeth 18 of the comb. Obviously, due to the longitudinal movement of the cylinder 32 against the piston 56, pressure will be exerted on the liquid within the cylinder .to expel it through the slots 44 and ports 42. As the liquid volume in the cylinder decreases, air maybe admitted to the cylinder each time it is operated which air enters the cylinder throughthe opening 64, ports 62 and ports 58 around the exterior of the valve 60, it being understood that the valves 60 and 66 are unseated as the cylinder 32 is moved against the effort of the spring 46. Obviously, as the cylinder advances in the Vbarrel 24 under the influence of the spring 46, the valve v60 and 66 will move against their respective heads to close the ports 62 and 58 to prevent the escape of liquid from the interior of the cylinder. Thus, by manipulating the handle 40, la supply of hair dressing may be deposited on the teeth 18 of the comb to be distributed thereby to the hair of the user.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts rnay be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A fountain comb comprising a barrel having a bore extending longitudinally thereinto through one end thereof, a row of longitudinally spaced comb teeth carried by the barrel and extending radially outwardly therefrom, said barrel having ylongitudinally spaced ports extending therethrough and communicating with the spaces between the comb teeth, a hollow cylinder mounted in the bore to move longitudinally therein, said cylinder defining a reservoir for containing a hair dressing liquid, said cylinder having longitudinally spaced liquid discharge ports extending therethrough for registration with the ports in the barrel when the cylinder moves longitudinally within the barrel, a spring mounted within the barrel and engaging the cylinder for holding the vports in the cylinder out of registration with the ports in the barrel, means carried by the barrel and operatively connected to the cylinder for moving the cylinder against the effortof the spring and the vports in the cylinder into registration with the ports in the barrel, a piston carried by the barrel and entering the cylinder for `expelling liquid therefrom when the ports therein register with the ports in the barrel, the cylinder having an ai-r inlet port, and a check valve covering the air inlet port and arranged to permit flow of air into the cylinder to replace liquid expelled therefrom.

2. A fountain comb comprising a comb body including an elongated body portion of substantially crescent shaped cross section, a handle formed as a longitudinal extension of said body portion, and a longitudinal row of spaced comb teeth formed upon the body portion, said body portion having longitudinally spaced ducts extending therethrough into communication with the spaces between the comb teeth; a tubular barrel seating in said body portion, said barrel having a longitudinal row o-f ports in registration with said ducts, the barrel bein-g formed adjacent one end with an air vent providing cornmunication `between the interior of the barrel and latrnosphere; a cylindrical reservoir -rnounted in the barrel for longitudinal sliding movement and having one end formed with a filling opening, the other of the reservoir having an air inlet port, said reservoir being formed with a longitudinal row of ports registering with the barrel ports and ducts on movement of the reservoir in the direction of the handle to one position within the barrel;

` spring means within the barrel held under compression ybetween said other end of the reservoir kand said one end of the barrel and tensioned to normally'urgeV the reservoir away from the handley to a second position in which its ports are out of registration with the barrel ports and ducts;l and plungerk rigid With said other end of the cylinder yand slida'bly mounted in the handle, said plunger terminating in a lateral extension for manually shifting the plunger in a direction to move the cylinder to said one position thereof; a piston mounted within the cylinder intermediate opposite ends thereof in wiping contact with the wall of the cylinder, said piston being stationarily mounted in the barrel, whereby to place under pressure liquid contained within the cylinder when the cylinder is moved to its rst position for vexpelling the liquid through the reservoir and 'barrel ports, said piston having an air inlet port; and check valves mounted on the piston and against said other end of .the reservoir respectively, said check valves being Aarranged to admit air into the reservoir through the Vbarrel vent and through the reservoir and piston air inlet ports to replace liquid expelled from the reservoir, when the reservoir is moved under the force of said spring to its second position following the expulsion of la quantity of liquid therefrom.

References Cited in thele of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

